RiversidePeace wrote:Take a closer look, dear friend. I'm not as new as you think but I am older and wiser. I have learned something while on sabbatical and that is I cannot forget those who mean more to me than I thought AND that they might know.

Riverside Peace

After I posted I did notice a familiar name at the bottom of your entry and I had to wonder: Is this our own Chrissy, but incognito? (then I better not "blow your cover!"), or is this Chrissy's daughter (promoting her mom's books)? Hmmm! What a treat either way! Hugs to you, my dear!

I had a most welcome, although unexpected, visitor on Saturday. I did not know that Carol's niece had planned to drive to Mpls. from Kansas on Friday to attend her 40th High School Class reunion on Friday evening. It was a surprise to see her at my front door on Saturday morning.

Lori had driven here five months ago for Carol's memorial service, too. You see, Lori's parents (Carol's brother) had passed away many years ago and, ever since then, she considered Carol and me as her second parents. Over the years the three of us had some great times traveling, boating, conversing, and just sharing together. Also, Lori had suddenly lost her husband about twenty years ago, and was in need of a stable support in her life. Carol and I were always there for her.

She simply stopped by on Saturday to see how I was coping with Carol's death, and ended up staying for several hours. We had a great time laughing, crying, talking of old times, re-living moments with Carol, and sharing good memories of family. Oh, how I needed that!

It’s interesting that during the past five months, very few people have bothered to ask me how I was/am doing. The neighbors?...only one out of eight. Our friends?...only three out of a small hand-full. The family?...only five out of many. My new-found friends at my new church?...many of them have asked. Most of the others who showed any interest only expressed a “Hi, how are you” greeting, and were not able or willing to “talk”.

I think I’m doing okay, and don’t need to be “mothered” to death. But on the other hand, it would be comforting to know that those people mentioned truly cared.

Yesterday Lori showed her caring heart at a time when I needed it. She was always precious to Carol and me. Lori went back to Kansas today.

Don

John 14:6Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."

Don, that is such a blessing for you to have someone so close to share with you from your memories. God is good!

While I'm on board, I will share some prayer requests, not so urgent, but all prayer support is so greatly appreciated, and felt!

Asking prayer:1. for our grandson Zach Peterson leaving Sunday 4 August for a short-term mission to Thailand; for all provisions to be met, including safety coming and going;2. for my brother Phil and his wife Judy to find the new apartment they need by the end of August, in the right location;3. for relief, peace and joy to overflow for their daughter Sarah, who is exhausted with her job plus helping her parents with health and housing needs. Thank you all so much!

1. To avoid cutting yourself when slicing vegetables, get someone else to hold the vegetables while you chop. 2. To avoid arguments with women about lifting the toilet seat-use the sink. 3. For high blood pressure sufferers - simply cut yourself and bleed for a few minutes, thus reducing the pressure on your veins. [remember to use a timer.] 4. A mouse trap placed on top of your alarm clock will prevent you from rolling over and going back to sleep after you hit the snooze button. 5. If you have a bad cough, take a large dose of laxatives - you'll be afraid to cough. 6. You only need two tools in life - WD-40 and duct tape. If it doesn't move and should, use the WD-40. If it shouldn't move and does, use the duct tape. 7. If you can't fix it with a hammer, you've got an electrical problem." — feeling amused.

But this will make you shake your head in disgust. A friend sent it to me:

At approximately 2:30 pm, September 6, I entered the Publix store on Main St. in Gainesville FL to pick up a few items. I gathered my items and went to the 14 and under register to check-out. The person in front of me (a white female, approximate age 35-43, fake nails, big braided hair do, clean clothes, carrying a purse and a plastic drinking cup) put her purchase on the check out surface: ONE GRAPE.

Yes, that is correct ONE GRAPE. The cashier asked if that was all, she replied yes. The cashier then weighed the GRAPE and told the women the cost was $.02 (TWO CENTS). The women then pulled out her Food Stamp EBT card and swiped it through the credit card machine, requesting $24.00 in cash back. The cashier asked if she wanted the GRAPE, the woman replied no and the GRAPE was put in the garbage can. The register recorded the sale as .02, cash back $24.00. The cashier then asked if two fives would be okay because was out of tens, the woman agreed and took the $24.00 folded it up and put it in her pocket and left the store.

As the next person in line, I asked the cashier as a tax payer, what had just happened here. She said she was on the clock and could not comment. I then asked if I had actually seen this person purchase and discard a GRAPE, then get cash back on her Food Stamp EBT card. The cashier responded that it happens all day every day in their store. She also said that if the person buying the GRAPE has it ring up over .02 they get mad and make her reweigh it.

I paid for my groceries, in cash, and left the store madder than 10 wet hens.

Mariane Holbrook

"For you are dead to yourself and your life is hid with Christ in God."Colossians 3:3

But this will make you shake your head in disgust. A friend sent it to me:

At approximately 2:30 pm, September 6, I entered the Publix store on Main St. in Gainesville FL to pick up a few items. I gathered my items and went to the 14 and under register to check-out. The person in front of me (a white female, approximate age 35-43, fake nails, big braided hair do, clean clothes, carrying a purse and a plastic drinking cup) put her purchase on the check out surface: ONE GRAPE.

Yes, that is correct ONE GRAPE. The cashier asked if that was all, she replied yes. The cashier then weighed the GRAPE and told the women the cost was $.02 (TWO CENTS). The women then pulled out her Food Stamp EBT card and swiped it through the credit card machine, requesting $24.00 in cash back. The cashier asked if she wanted the GRAPE, the woman replied no and the GRAPE was put in the garbage can. The register recorded the sale as .02, cash back $24.00. The cashier then asked if two fives would be okay because was out of tens, the woman agreed and took the $24.00 folded it up and put it in her pocket and left the store.

As the next person in line, I asked the cashier as a tax payer, what had just happened here. She said she was on the clock and could not comment. I then asked if I had actually seen this person purchase and discard a GRAPE, then get cash back on her Food Stamp EBT card. The cashier responded that it happens all day every day in their store. She also said that if the person buying the GRAPE has it ring up over .02 they get mad and make her reweigh it.

I paid for my groceries, in cash, and left the store madder than 10 wet hens.

Eh... not true. At least the point its trying to make isn't true. to summarize, if it's ONLY "food stamps" you can't get cash from it. There are other government cash benefits that come on the same card, but that can be used at any ATM to get the cash.

Hey Chrissy--Too bad I didn't read ALL the details at the end. Welcome back.

Don, You know your porch friends care about you and pray for you, but it's awfully nice to get some com fort from loved one and "real" people who can hug you. I'm so glad your niece came to see you.

Made me smile, Edy!

Mariane, I love the story that my mom tells about rations after the 2nd World War. She said that she there was a woman in front of her in the grocery line that said, "What do you mean I have to have stamps for beans. Everybody's got to have beans!"

You probably have seen these before but they are so funny!...4. During a patient's two week follow-upappointment with his cardiologist, he informed me, his doctor, that he was having trouble withone of his medications.'Which one?' . . . I asked. 'The patch...The Nurse told me to put on a new one every six hoursand now I'm running out of places to put it!'I had him quickly undress and discovered what I hoped I wouldn't see.Yes, the man had over fifty patches on his body!Now, the instructions include removal of the old patch before applying a new one.

Submitted by Dr. Rebecca St. Clair, Norfolk, VA

6. I was performing rounds at the hospital one morning and while checking up on a man I asked . . ."So how's your breakfast this morning?""It's very good except for the Kentucky Jelly. I can't seem to get used to the taste," Bob replied.I then asked to see the jelly and Bob produceda foil packet labeled 'KY Jelly.'

Submitted by Dr. Leonard Kransdorf, Detroit

There's more, but I don't dare share since they might be too risqué for folks outside the health care professions. A couple of them were even submitted anonymously, they're so bad, but funny.

Today I received the quarterly news publication for my city. I am most upset!

Among other things, the booklet paints a rosy picture of employment, quality of life, new construction, city improvements, population growth, and more. New city projects are also presented.

They are planning to purchase and tear down an existing business (eminent domain?), and replace it with a new 8,000 sq. ft. building that will house three retail stores. No problem? Read on...

The existing business is located only five minutes from my house, and also does well selling live bait on the side for area fishermen. That is very bad news for someone who lives on my city lake with a dock and boat, and who enjoys fishing...as I do.

Now, instead of my ten minute round trip for live bait, I will need to drive 30-40 miles round trip for bait so I can fish in my lake. The bait will likely die of old age before I can get them home.

Over the past few years the city has forced two other bait shops to close their doors so larger buildings could be constructed in their place. What do they think we do in our land of 10,000 lakes? Just float around in $75,000 yachts?

They keep attempting to "upgrade" the city, and of course, increase the taxes collected.

The soon-to-be-replaced existing business currently pays $17,000 in property taxes. The three retail tenants in the new building will pay $43,000. That's a rather nice windfall for the city that will probably either re-carpet the mayor's corner office, or beef up his music system.

Yeah, it's all about a nice money grab for the city, and a bunch of yuppie city planners who couldn't care less about common folk who enjoy fishing. By the way, I pay a boat load of taxes living in my cottage on the lake. I wonder what they do with that money?

Meanwhile...my live bait source will soon be gone!

Rant over...

Don

John 14:6Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."

Don, please submit your eloquent letter to the editors of local, metro area and state news outlets, perhaps even the I-team and other television news programs so they can investigate the situation. You do paint a logical and highly suspicious situation where the power people think they can do just what they please, the will of the people notwithstanding.